Kentucky State Council Newsletter

Transcription

1 Kentucky State Council Newsletter September 2017 Reflection Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept 15 th ) This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of Mary, Mother of God, and her compassion with the sufferings of her Divine Son, Jesus. In her suffering as co-redeemer, she reminds us of the tremendous evil of sin and shows us the way of true repentance. May the numerous tears of the Mother of God be conducive to our salvation; with which tears Thou, O God, art able to wash away the sins of the whole world. As Mary stood at the foot of the Cross on which Jesus hung, the sword of sorrow Simeon had foretold pierced her soul. Below are the seven sorrows of Mary: 1. The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35) 2. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15) 3. Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50) 4. Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17) 5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30) 6. The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37) 7. The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47

2 Kentucky State Council Newsletter September 2017 A roof leak at Saint Therese School in Southgate caused some books to be ruined in their library. Bishop Flaget Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Assembly gave the school a donation to help replace some of the books. Shown here is Sir Knight Carl Biery (right) presenting a check to the librarian, Ellen Lonneman with Deacon Bill Theis looking on.

3 Kentucky State Council Newsletter September 2017 Knights of Columbus Council Thanks and congratulations on a successful run as Grand Knight for Billy Whalen! Billy was recognized at the August council meeting and given a council jacket and awarded his past Grand Knight pin and regalia medal.

4 Kentucky State Council Newsletter September 2017

5 Kentucky State Council Newsletter September 2017 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS IN MEMORY OF ALL DECEASED KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DURING THE 135 TH SUPREME CONVENTION St. Louis, Missouri A Supreme Convention begins on Tuesday and ends on Thursday. Each day begins with Mass. The Thursday Mass is in memory of all deceased Knights that passed during the past year. The necrology listed this year in the Mass program is 13 pages and begins with the hierarchy and ends with district deputies. Kentucky had two deceased members listed: Most Reverend John J. McRaith, Bishop Emeritus of Owensboro, and Joseph B. Dant, Former Vice Supreme Master. It is unfortunate that his title was incorrectly listed and does not recognize the office he actually held. I urge you when you send in the name of a deceased member to insure his title is correct. It is an unwritten jurisdiction policy that these Mass programs are sent to the spouse and children of the deceased members listed. For members of the hierarchy the program is sent to the Chancery office. Prior to our State Convention a notice is sent to all Councils asking for input to the necrology read during the convention. Your input is also used to submit selected names to Supreme for publishing in the Thursday Mass program. Please insure your input is accurate. Submitted by: Billy Hancock, PSD, FDM State Historian

6 State Deputy Gabe Cabral September 2017 Newsletter--From the KY State Deputy My Brother Knights, it s been a long hot summer, but relief is on the way- But not relief from the work at hand! The work done by the Knights worldwide is in great need and would be sorely missed. We all have an obligation to share our Order with EVERY eligible Catholic man. Imagine how much more we could do, or how much better our work would be, with more helping hands. At this point, we are coming up on the ¼ mark into the fraternal year and I hope your council officers have come together to become the well-oiled team who are all pulling in the same direction. All indications point to this being true! The Supreme Knight s challenge to recruit better than our best July and August is now in the history books. Our recruiting goal for July was 37 and we cleaned up with 45 which smoked our previous record of 36. The August goal was 57 and we recruited 56. So, while we didn t break the record for our best August, we did tie it which is almost as good. The councils who brought in these members also saved $5 on their new member fees to the state. While the Supreme Knight s Fast Start program is over, the savings of $5 per member is still in effect until December 31, so let s keep them coming. Please make every effort to use this to your advantage. You will not only save your council money, but you will also get a huge advantage in getting to your membership goal in the first half of the year rather than rushing to the finish line in the last few months. We have some prime opportunities for councils to run some very successful Church Drives in the coming months and we should do everything we can to make the most of these opportunities. Getting these men in early will help them get integrated sooner, develop their commitment to the Order, and it will help your council identify competent members you can rely on to fill open offices. You re not just recruiting new members, but are sowing the seeds for the future of our beloved Order. I look forward to hearing many wildly successful stories at the Mid Year meeting of your recruiting efforts.

7 State Deputy Gabe Cabral (cont.) September 2017 Newsletter--From the KY State Deputy A few years ago, the state council started a Disaster Relief Fund to help with natural & manmade catastrophes as they happen. The fund is provided with operating income from money earned from the Basketball Slam ticket program that we run annually starting in January/February. For the last few years, we have been fortunate with just a few events. This year is shaping up to be very different. We have recently answered the call to help in the devastated Southern Texas areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. The State Officers have decided to send $2500 to support our friends in Texas and we would like to invite your council to help build this to a larger number. If your council has not already found a way to help or is looking for a way to further offer assistance, please consider joining with the State Council in this plan. If your council chooses to participate, have the council check made out to Kentucky State Council (please put Harvey Relief in the memo line) sent to: Cameron Peck, State Secretary 796 Wellington Way Lexington, KY All money will be sent directly to the Texas State disaster relief fund which is managed by the Knights of Columbus Texas State Council. We ask that you have these sent by 9/30/2017, or bring the check to the Regional Meeting in your diocese in mid- September. As I write this article, Hurricane Irma (C5) has its sights set on the Florida Peninsula and will likely continue at hurricane strength well into Georgia as it makes its way toward Kentucky. So, it appears our work is not done yet. Thank you for all you do and remembering that Charity will always be the foremost principle in our Order. Vivat Jesus, Gabe Cabral KY State Deputy

8 State Chaplain Fr. Patrick Dolan Report of the KY State Chaplain Beloved Brother Knights: As many of you know, besides serving recently as the state chaplain, I have been a faithful friar for Msgr. McGee Assembly for the past 25 years (punctuated by service away in Iraq when Fr. Murray filled in). Moreover, when assigned to Teresa of Calcutta parish, I inherited another assembly. Both of these have discussed in gentlemanly terms the controversy over the new uniform for the 4 th degree color corps and have expressed both disappointment and dismay at the reasoning and methodology of this change. Allow me to encourage everyone to continue to behave virtuously as they faithfully express their concerns and decisions in a truly adult way exactly as the Second Vatican Council encouraged adult faithful members of the church to follow their Lord and Savior. In the above paragraph I used the word adult deliberately. Faithful members of the Body of Christ will not always agree on everything--not even with their clergy, let alone with fellow members of any organization. Paramount is the need for charity which maintains unity in Christ even when there is not uniformity. After all, vesture is different in the very rites of the church (as well as prayer styles, use of incense or an ikonostasis, etc.) and yet there remains a unity in Christ despite attempts by evil forces over the years to disrupt this. Adults can disagree, yet love each other and pray for each other and worship together. Concerning that uniform, at present it is not required that anyone purchase it--but only preferred that one wear it after June 30th. Many present members of the 4 th degree, as well as prospective members, are waiting for clarity. Indeed, the state officers routinely wear a bright blue jacket and horsehead tie for many state functions even though all of them are 4 th degree members. [It will be interesting to see what is required for some Supreme Convention events like the states dinner next August, though as clergy and as military I have other options for formal uniform wear at such functions.] But most important is to abide in charity--despite what some consider a terrible mistake by the Supreme Council in an attempt to attract younger knights into the 4 th degree when the real obstacle is trying to fit another monthly meeting into a busy calendar filled with their kid s activities.

9 State Chaplain Fr. Patrick Dolan (cont.) May your kindness and charity abide so thoroughly in this or any discussion, so that what was once said of the early Christians see how they love one another may radiate from each of you so thoroughly that it renews the face of the earth. Vivat Jesus! Fr. Patrick Dolan State Chaplain

10 State Secretary Cameron Peck Brothers, We have had two devastating hurricanes strike so far this hurricane season and we still have 10 weeks to go. A bit of a silver lining is that it appears that Hurricane Jose will not make landfall. The Kentucky State Council voted to donate $2,500 to the Texas Jurisdiction to help them help the people effected by Hurricane Harvey. At that time, our State Deputy informed the councils that if they would like to contribute to the Harvey Relief Fund, we would combine all the donations and send them in together. I would like to note that we have received some very generous donations and that we will be forwarding those on early next month. So far, the Florida Jurisdiction has not reached out for assistance but if they do, I am sure Kentucky will again help our brothers so they can help those that need it most. For those of you that don t know, the Basketball Slam sweepstakes that we have done for the past four years is what funds our Disaster Relief Fund. Through your efforts this past four years, we have grown the Disaster Relief Fund from about $2,500 to about $25,000. Thanks for your help with this program, without you, we would not be able to help like we have. You all are doing a great Job in Membership! As of September 14 th, we have 113 new brother knights in the state of Kentucky. This is the best start we have had in many years. But, recruiting a man is only half the battle, we need to keep these guys interested. And the best wat to do that is to get them active in something they enjoy. So, find out what hobbies they have. Are they passionate about something? Of course they are, we all are passionate about something. We need to find out what it is and then pair them up with someone else in the council that shares similar interests. And the time to do this is now, do not wait. I firmly believe that every new knight should be paired up with a mentor. Someone they can go to when they have questions. It makes all the difference to that new knight. We are on pace to reach the membership quota that Supreme assigned to us of 570 men by June 30 th. How much more can we accomplish with those extra 570 men? Just imagine a Knights of Columbus event where we had 570 brother knights working together for a common goal. Wow, that would be one fantastic event!

11 State Secretary Cameron Peck (cont.) And finally, I would like to take a moment to thank Mike Mudd for taking over as the Newsletter Editor. As State Secretary, my duties have increased and with that, my available time has decreased. So, by taking over the newsletter he has helped me quite a bit. Thanks Mike. Vivat Jesus, Cameron Peck State Secretary

12 State Treasurer Steve Zanone Brother Knights, Thank you to everyone who has gotten out and recruited a new member this fraternal year! We are off to a good start, so let s keep the momentum going. When recruiting new members, don t forget to include the whole family. We are a family friendly organization, and we must do a better job of promoting our family activities to the young men in your parish. Our future is recruiting young families to carry on the work of Fr McGivney. This month we will be holding our regional meetings. These meetings are a valuable source of information for your council, so attendance is important. Please don t look for an excuse to skip out on the regional in your area. I guarantee that no matter how many of these you have attended, you can learn something new that will be of benefit to you and your council. It is also a good time to ask the State Officers any questions you may have, or seek an opinion on any problems you may be having. We will be happy to help as much as possible. By now, our NFL Sweepstakes ticket sale should be in full swing. Be sure to let everyone know about the buy two get one free program. Many councils buy tickets for their chaplain, and in the name of the council. Don t forget Father is a guy too; he more than likely enjoys a little football! For every ticket your council sells, there will be money sent back for your charitable programs. This is our one and only fundraiser for the Kentucky State Charities, so if your council is not going to participate, please consider making a donation instead. Please pray for everyone affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The State Council has already sent $2,500 from our disaster relief fund to the Texas State Council. I feel certain that there will be money sent to the Florida State Council as well, as the need arises. The disaster relief fund is money from the sale of the NCAA Basketball Slam tickets. Isn t it wonderful that we are able to step up and fulfill the first principle of our order when our Brothers are in need? These are the times when we have the opportunity to have an impact far beyond our jurisdiction. I look forward to seeing all of you at the regional meetings in the next few weeks. Vivat Jesus, Steve Zanone, State Treasurer

13 State Advocate Tom Johnson Its September...that means the kids are back in school, after school activities, fall sports and family reunions. For many of us it s a busy time of year. On September 4 th we ll gather with family and friends and celebrate Labor Day. Let s not forget that on September 4 th, 2016 St Mother Teresa was canonized by Pope Francis and the positive and lasting impact that she has had on so many lives around the world. We must not forget 9/11/2001 and the lasting impact it has had on so many lives around the world; One, a horrific and senseless act born out of hatred for others the other a beautiful loving and caring woman who did so much for humanity. Both should be remembered. Both had an impact on the World. St. Mother Teresa pray for us and our country. Upcoming Regional Meetings: September also means it s time for our Regional Meetings. Meetings for the Owensboro, Lexington, Covington Diocese and the Louisville Archdiocese are planned for September 16 th at Maysville Council 1377, on September 17 th at Cardome Center in Georgetown, on September 23 rd at Clarkson Council 6743 and on September 24 th at St. Teresa Parish Hall in Fairdale. Start times will be at 9:30am local time. Locations are subject to change. Keep a sharp eye out for any changes that may occur. These meetings are for the council officers. It is important that you attend the meetings to get updated on what s happening within our jurisdiction and within our Order. Have you heard about membership incentives being offered by Supreme? What about the new 4 th Degree Regalia or the new e-membership that s being rolled out? Want to find out more come to your Regional Meeting. We d love to see you. Supreme Convention Take Away: Once again the Supreme Convention was an awesome experience. This year it was held in St. Louis, MO. Hats off to the Missouri Jurisdiction on a job well done. The masses were beautiful and the opportunity to see and touch the relics of St John Paul II, St Mother Teresa, St Faustina and many other holy saints was an extraordinary and moving experience.

14 State Advocate Tom Johnson (cont.) Much was discussed in the business meetings. One item of particular interest was a talk given by Patrick Kelley on recruiting young men into the Order. While I may still feel young, my body and graying hair tell me that I m not as young as I once was. I no longer attend grade school activities with my children. Now I m attending them as a grandparent. I m not out on the ball fields coaching my son or daughters, I don t have to shuttle them from Chucky Cheese parties or to recitals or the library to work on a school project. I ve survived all of that. For the young men in our parishes this is their life and asking them to pile a little more onto the busy schedules is like putting an extra weight on their shoulders. But it doesn t have to be that way WE need to understand what interest these men and what they re looking for. That s the message that Patrick Kelley shared with us. Here s his take based on extensive research by Supreme: Men want to 1. Grow in their faith 2. Become better Catholic men by performing Charitable works 3. Involve their families. This gives them the opportunity to be with their families and share their Christian values with the children and neighbors Men are expected to be equal to their wives and share in all family responsibilities. And their wives have to believe that involvement in the Knights of Columbus is beneficial to the family. There you are If you want to recruit young men with young families you re going to have to develop programs and activities that address these needs. Guy s just because you recruited a new & younger member don t automatically make them a council officer. Bring them in slowly. Get them involved, yes, but let them move at their own pace and always extend a helping hand.

15 State Advocate Tom Johnson (cont.) September is also a time to reflect. Summer is about over, Fall is upon us, Winter is just around the corner and Spring seems far away but the truth of the matter is that Spring will be here before we know. In fact if you haven t looked Ash Wednesday is February 14 th next year and Easter Sunday is April 1 st. Wow we start the Lenten Season off on Valentine s Day and finish with Easter Sunday on April Fool s Day. And they say God doesn t have a sense of humor. Who knew! Take Care and God Bless, Tom Johnson KY State Advocate

16 State Warden Luke A. Williams SEPTEMBER 2017 SWEEPSTAKES UPDATE 5 weeks to go to the October 14 deadline to turn in Sweepstakes tickets and checks to the State Warden. I hope all the councils and council members are participating in this KY State Charities and your councils' fundraiser so that we beat last year's return to council per ticket amount of $3.08 per ticket. Any council that sells at least 25 tickets will receive 25 points towards the State Deputy Award. The Buy 2 get 1 free offer is still available and a great incentive to buy 2 tickets at a time. If anyone buys two (2) tickets they can get a third ticket free from Green Bee. Just go online and register the two tickets that you bought. They don t even have to have the same person s name on them. Go to to check results, order tickets or get your free ticket. At the website, click on the Football Frenzy icon. This buy 2 get one free offer is only available on line and good until October 26 so don t wait. Remember the proceeds from the sale of the NFL Sweepstake tickets go to help fund your KY State Charities and your local council. I have had a few Knights ask me where the KY State Charities proceeds go and how the monies are distributed. I have added the reprinted KY State Charities section of the KY State Program Guide to help explain. If you would like the Charities Board of Directors to consider a grant request, check out the Program Guide, ask your GK, DD or a State Officer for a Request for Funds form to fill out. REPRINT FROM KY STATE PROGRAM GUIDE: Knights of Columbus Charities of Kentucky, Inc. The Knights of Columbus Charities of Kentucky, Inc. is a non-profit corporation and a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Donations to the corporation are tax deductable. It was formed in the early 1990 s to promote charitable and educational pursuits, to render mutual aid and assistance to those in need and to support and cooperate with all fraternal, charitable and civic enterprises rendering monetary aid. The membership of this corporation is composed solely of the active membership in good standing of all Kentucky subordinate councils and the Kentucky State Council.

17 State Warden Luke A. Williams Its affairs are managed by a Board of Directors that are elected from the membership of the Corporation in the manner provided by the by-laws. The governing Board can also make appointments to this Board. The Corporations by-laws are subject to review and approval by the membership. They can be modified only through the amendment process at the Annual State Meeting. All net proceeds from any fundraiser must be distributed to recognized entities and needy individuals based on grant requests received and voted on by the Board of Directors. A grant request is included at the back of this program guide. Additional copies are available. Incomplete grant requests from organizations will not be approved. Expenses of the Corporation are only those necessary, reasonable and directly related that attribute to managing the Corporation. The Board of Directors meets twice a year to consider actions on grant requests. The Corporation is financially sound with its funds coming primarily from a Sweepstakes fundraiser supported by the jurisdiction s subordinate councils. The officers and directors are continually looking at new ways to increase annual income to fund the many charitable requests that it receives. We need our subordinate councils to continue to keep our Charities Corporation serving those in need by continuing their support of our annual fundraisers. The primary principle of the Knights of Columbus, as we learned in the First Degree, is CHARITY. The Sweepstakes is one of the easiest ways for a Council to raise money for charitable purposes. It requires very little manpower and no investment of any kind. It is a win-win situation for all involved. Sixty-five percent of net receipts are split evenly among participating Councils and K of C Charities. Each Council receives funds based on the number of tickets they sell. The more participation that we have, the more money we will have available to help those in need. The real winners are the needy that are helped at the council level and those that are helped by grants from Kentucky Charities, Inc.

18 State Warden Luke A. Williams Additionally, the Corporation has invested funds in the Supreme Council s Christopher Fund. The interest derived from this fund will be returned to Kentucky Charities to be used for charitable distribution. In the coming years we will continue to invest in the Christopher Fund to increase our return for greater charitable endeavors. Gabe Cabral, State Deputy, Chairman 261 Evergreen Court. Bowling Green, KY gcabral@twc.com Upcoming Regional Meetings: I will be at this month s State Regional Meetings with Fatima Centennial KY State Pins and an update on the NFL Sweepstakes. I hope to see you in Maysville (9/16), Georgetown (9/17), Clarkson (9/23) or Fairdale (9/24). Check the State Calendar for details on times and addresses. Vivat Jesus, Luke A. Williams State Warden

19 General Program Director Bill Schmidt IPSD Brother Knights A Star Council Watch has been issued for your area until June 30th, This watch means conditions are favorable for membership growth, charitable programs, and expanded family financial protection. Spiritual growth, meaningful friendships, community involvement, and parish integration are likely during this watch. During this watch it is recommended that your council seek shelter in your parish and community, becoming involved with families and those in need. It may seem a bit early to be talking about Star Council, as the peak Star Council season is typically seen as starting in April and peaking in June. Hopefully your council has gotten off to a Fast Start in Membership and/or Insurance, which puts you in the high risk category for achieving Star Council. Many of you achieved Star Council last year and this year would be a great time to either start or continue a streak of Star Council Awards. In case you need a refresher, in order to achieve Star Council, you must meet the following requirements: 1) Achieve your Net Membership Goal 2) Achieve your Net Insurance Goal 3) Submit your Form 365 Service Program Personnel Report 4) Submit your Form 1728 Fraternal Activity Report 5) Pay all Supreme Council fees 6) Submit your SP-7 Columbian Award Application to Supreme, and for it to be accepted by them by June 30th.

20 General Program Director Bill Schmidt IPSD (cont.) Rather than wait for the Peak Star Council Season, you need to work diligently on all of these requirements now. Schedule First Degrees now and recruit for them. Plan for effective Recruitment Drives. Contact your Field Agent and work with him to identify members that will benefit from the Order s Insurance program, or schedule an Insurance Benefit Night. Plan your program calendar and list them on the SP-7 Columbian Award Application to set yourself up for a successful year. Don t forget that you need to have at least four programs that fit the Building the Domestic Church program. As councils need to get a Fast Start on recruiting, you also need to get a fast start in your Insurance Program Promotion and Programming. There were several councils that just missed achieving Star Council last year because they ran out of time. I do not want any council to come up short this year. Get a fast start on your fraternal year now! This Star Council Watch will not be cancelled early, and will likely expand to other areas where Star Council conditions develop favorably. In September and October, councils should be conducting programs such as the selling the NFL Sweepstakes tickets, Voter Registration, hosting the Soccer Challenge at the council level, Tootsie Roll Drive, and Fifth Sunday Rosary (October 29 th ). Councils should be planning now for programs in November, and December. Programs such as Columbus Day celebration, Memorial Mass, Food for Families, Keep Christ in Christmas, Journey to the Inn, and Consecration to the Holy Family should be planned now. Remember that I am challenging every council to make this their best year ever and to show it by submitting the Columbian Award application (SP-7) regardless of your ability to achieve Star Council. The Columbian Award is a prestigious award as it shows that your council is active and growing.

21 General Program Director Bill Schmidt IPSD (cont.) Remember too that every program your council performs should be used as an opportunity to invite a fellow Catholic gentleman to join the Knights of Columbus. The benefits of recruiting just one new member are significant not only to your council, but to the new member as well. Invite one of these gentlemen to join us and be part of the programs your council has to offer. As always, if you need any assistance or have any questions, I am available for you. I would love to hear from you. Fraternally, Bill Schmidt, IPSD General Program Director BillSchmidtPSD@comcast.net

22 Membership Director Rick Arnold Brothers all, Congrats to us all! We just completed our best July and August ever in regards to membership income. Thank you all for a great effort by everyone. We finished up with 101 new members at the end of August. Now is the time to take advantage of our positive momentum. October is the time to make sure that we have church drives in every parish that the Knights has a presence. Church drive kits are available from the Supreme Council at no charge. You can get a second kit for only the cost of shipping. Let s not forget about the smaller churches where we do not have a council. Active Roundtables should be established in these smaller parishes. Roundtable recruit an average of 3 new members each year. You have plenty of resources at your fingertips! Your District Deputy, State Officers, Past State Deputies, General Agent and Field Agents and I are at your service. Please do not hesitate to ask for help. Please remembers that our Worthy State Chaplain, Father Pat Dolan, is eager to help your council in any way. Please take advantage of this great asset to the Kentucky State Council. I look forward to seeing you all at the Regional meetings. Vivat Jesus and Peace be with you! Rick Arnold PSD Membership Chairman

23 Membership Director Rick Arnold (cont.) Brothers all, Many of our councils have already made their contribution to the Culture of Life Fund for their dioceses. Thank you so much. If your council has not made their pledge yet, I encourage you to do so as soon as you can. Please remember that in order to be eligible to receive the State Culture of Life Awards, your council must participate in some Culture of Life activity as well as make a monetary gift. If you are aware of any organization that made need our help, please contact the Culture of Life Chair-couple in your diocese. I encourage you all to work toward earning the KPAL pin. Details are available on the state website or you can contact us directly. Peace be with you! Celesta and Rick Arnold PSD Culture of Life Chair-couple

24 District Master Gary Dykuis Worthy Faithful Navigators and Ladies, September Events; In the late 19 th century, as unions and labor force grew, trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor. Labor Day was initially promoted and organized in New York City. In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday. By June 28, 1894, when the 53 rd Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday, 30 U.S. states had already recognized its significance. September 2, 1945, President Harry Truman declared V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day) commemorating the formal Japanese surrender to the Allies aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed by John Adams, Ben Franklin and John Jay, formally ending the American Revolutionary War between Britain and the United States. In 1774, The First Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia with 56 delegates, representing every colony, except Georgia. Attendants included Patrick Henry, George Washington, Sam Addams and John Hancock. Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia with 56 delegates, representing every colony, except Georgia. Next Exemplification: October 14, 2017, Bluegrass Assembly, Lexington, KY. This will be the Lexington Diocese Exemplification. The planning is done and the information is on the Kentucky Website. The new Year starts July 1, and I hope to have an Exemplification in each of the Diocese of Kentucky. The February Exemplification will be held in Radcliff on February 24. If your Assembly would like to sponsor an Exemplification, please let me know.

25 District Master Gary Dykuis (cont.) Please report the new Assembly Officers on the Knights of Columbus Website. It only takes a few minutes to do this. Yes, the Supreme Knight, Carl A. Anderson and the Board of Directors, have made some changes. There is a New Fourth Degree Uniform. Tuxedos are optional for Exemplifications, Navy Blue or Black Suits can be worn for the Exemplification. A pin stripe gray suite is acceptable. Please help the Kentucky District with new Sir Knights. You can do this by assisting your council holding; First Degree - Admission Degrees, Second Degree - Formation Degrees, and Third Degree - Knighthood Degrees. There are a large number First Degree members of our order that need to be advanced to 2 nd and 3 rd Degrees. These are members that would make Great Council Officers and Sir Knights. But as Sir Knights, we should be having Admission First Degrees at our council meetings. Yes, the Council can use the DVD, as works great. Please note my new address; garydykhuis@att.net Vivat Jesus, SK Gary Dykhuis, Kentucky District Master

26 Kentucky State Council Featured Programs The Knights of Columbus has always been an organization dedicated to the well-being and support of Catholic family life. The family is the first and primary place where we experience and are formed in our Catholic faith. By building upon our current programs and activities, the Knights of Columbus continues to promote the family as a domestic church where husbands and wives, parents and children, grow in their knowledge and practice of the Catholic Faith. In order to perform its important mission of evangelization, each family needs to find support in the sacramental life of the parish. Knights of Columbus councils have always responded to the most urgent needs of the Church, particularly through charitable and social outreach. In order to support the evangelization of family life today, our councils must be even more fully integrated into our parishes. As the world s largest Catholic fraternal and family organization, we have a responsibility to dedicate our time, talent and resources to ensuring that our parishes are beacons of the new evangelization. In order to highlight the importance of this new initiative and its impact on our mission, the Supreme Council has announced that this year, at least four major council programs must be designated as Domestic Church activities to earn the Columbian Award. The following programs currently carry the Domestic Church activity designation: 5th Sunday Rosary Program Consecration to the Holy Family Family Fully Alive Devotional Program Family Week Celebrations Affirmation of Wedding Vows Food for Families Holy Family Prayer Program Journey to the Inn Keep Christ in Christmas Campaign Spiritual Formation Groups ( ex. Into the Breach) CIS - Building the Domestic Church Series Simple Supper & Stations

27 General Agent Darrell Swope Don t Leave Your Family s Future to Chance September is designated as Life Insurance Awareness Month. It s a great opportunity for you to evaluate your life insurance coverage and make sure your family s future will not be left to chance. Since life insurance guards against one of life s only certainties, it s a product that nearly everyone needs. The question is not Do I need life insurance? but rather Who should I get it from? Who Should I Get It From? Every life insurance company sells life insurance. There are hundreds of them in North America. But there s only one life insurance company that belongs to you. From the beginning, the Knights of Columbus has been determined to offer insurance by brother Knights for brother Knights and to uphold the Catholic commitment that has animated our Order since Father McGivney s time. Today, with more than $105 billion in force, our insurance program protects hundreds of thousands of families. In 2016, the Order paid more than $900 million in total benefits (death claims, maturities and annuities) and dividends to policyholders. Being your insurance company also means that we are ethical, responsible, Catholic and charitable just as you would expect. We refuse to invest in companies who deal in lines of business that run contrary to Church teaching. We also use proceeds from our insurance business to donate to Catholic causes and charitable initiatives around the world. Our insurance business and local councils are the two primary sources of the more than $1.6 billion we ve donated to charity in the past decade.

28 General Agent Darrell Swope The insurance program has earned numerous accolades, including the highest possible rating for financial strength (currently A++, Superior) from rating agency A.M. Best for 41 consecutive years. We have also received a World s Most Ethical Company designation by the Ethisphere Institute in 2014, 2015, 2016 and Our strength cannot be beaten. Our ethical pedigree cannot be questioned. And our Catholic commitment is never compromised. Not every life insurance company can say that. How Much Do I Need? As a Knight, you have a full-time professional brother Knight field agent to call your own. His job his mission is to help you determine the most cost-effective means of getting your family the coverage it needs. It s a proven fraternal system that has helped countless families when they need it most. So, as we observe Life Insurance Awareness Month, don t leave your family s future to chance charity. Protect your family with the safety and guarantees of life insurance from the Knights of Columbus.

29 Kentucky State Council Newsletter Scheduled Events September 9/16-Maysville- Covington Diocese Regional 9/17-Georgetown- Lexington Diocese Regional 9/23- Leitchfield-Owensboro Diocese Regional 9/24- Fairdale-Louisville Diocese Regional 9/24 Council 1483 Charity Golf Scramble Frankfort 9/ Fairdale Rd, Fairdale, KY 1 st degree 9/ River Rd, Louisville, KY 2 nd, 3 rd degree